U.S. Sales Exceed 500,000 Vehicles for First Time in Company History; U.S. Market Share Increases for 18^th Consecutive Year

IRVINE, Calif., January 3, 2013 – Kia Motors America (KMA), which previously announced it had surpassed its best-ever full-year sales total in less than 11 months, today reported all-time record sales in 2012 of 557,599 vehicles, a 14.9-percent increase over the previous best-ever mark set in 2011.  As one of the fastest-growing car companies in the U.S. over the last five years¹, December sales of 39,178 units helped to extend KMA’s streak of annual market share increases to 18 years.

KMA's sales were led throughout 2012 by the U.S.-built* Optima and that trend continued as the December total of 12,008 units helped the popular midsize sedan become the first Kia nameplate to top 150,000 annual sales.  Together with the popular Sorento CUV – also built at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) – Kia’s U.S.-built* vehicles represented more than 40-percent of last year’s record-setting volume.

"2012 was an historic year filled with a number of important achievements for the Kia brand including our 18^th straight annual market share increase, surpassing the 500,000 unit mark for the first time, and the sale of the four millionth Kia vehicle in the U.S.,” said Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO of KMA and KMMG.  "Kia is advancing value to new levels of sophistication by combining world-class automotive design, cutting-edge technologies and premium amenities with affordable pricing, and the brand’s maturation process will continue this year with seven all-new or significantly redesigned vehicles scheduled to arrive in our showrooms over the next 12 months."

About Kia Motors America
Kia Motors America is the marketing and distribution arm of Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, South Korea. KMA offers a complete line of vehicles through more than 765 dealers throughout the United States and serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and LPGA. In 2012, KMA recorded its best-ever annual sales total and gained U.S. market share for the 18th consecutive year.  Kia is poised to continue its momentum and will continue to build the brand through design innovation, quality, value, advanced safety features and new technologies.

Information about Kia Motors America and its full vehicle line-up is available at its website – www.kia.com. For media information, including photography, visit www.kiamedia.com.